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If you’ve just invested in an induction hob for the first time, you may find that it makes a few different noises than what you’re accustomed to. However, an induction hob buzzing noise normally isn’t anything to be truly worried about – it’s working fine.
How Do Induction Hobs Actually Work?
In order to understand where some of the noises could be coming from, it is first of all essential to understand how induction hobs work.
As you may know, induction hobs operate through electromagnetism. That is why they need special pots and pans that have magnetic bases in order to complete a magnetic field.
There are copper coils underneath the surface of the hob that conduct the electricity passed through them, thus creating a magnetic field, which is then completed with the bases of your pans. This helps to make hob cooking that little bit more efficient!
By heating the base of the pan directly, as opposed to having to heat up the hob and then the pan, you can save a lot of energy. Since the hob automatically turns off when the pan leaves the base (as the magnetic field is then broken), they are safer, more efficient, and often cheaper to use than most other options on the market.
Induction Hobs and Noises
Thankfully, most buzzing and humming noises from your induction hob are completely normal. But what do they mean, and how can you tell if there’s a fault? Let’s break down the different noises an induction hob makes and why it might make them.
Induction Hob Buzzing
The induction hob buzzing is completely normal. It’s connected with the power supply of the induction hob itself – the power from the magnetic field being run through your pots and pans can easily cause a buzzing or humming noise.
But why can you hear it with some pots and pans more than others? It’s to do with the cookware. The smaller and/or thinner the pot or pan, the more it is likely to make a noise. Some also find that the higher the setting they use, the more their induction hob buzzes. It should cease to be a problem as soon as you finish cooking.
Ticking
A ticking noise could also be due to the power from the magnetic field and shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you are hearing it at different intervals, then you might want to check that there is nothing between your pan and the surface of the hob, keeping your hob surfaces clean can really help. It could be that a grain of salt, sugar or other debris could be blocked between the pan and the hob, thus making a ticking or cracking sound.
Fan Noise
You may also notice that your induction hob’s fan starts making a lot of noise, especially after you have finished cooking. This is perfectly normal and, in fact, should only be something to worry about if you stop hearing the fan!
The fan is there to cool down the electrical components of the hob, which generally need cooling down after being used for a long time and/or on a high heat. The fan is an automatic component which is why you will not necessarily hear it after cooking every time.
The only reason that your fan’s sound should worry you is if you never hear it, or if it becomes increasingly loud or accompanied by other clicking noises. Of course, should you smell anything like burning or anything else accompanying the fan, then you should absolutely have it checked over by an expert.
Beeping
Beeping from your induction hob can mean a few things. The first thing that you should check is whether or not there is another substance on the surface of the hob. Sometimes some water, grease or grime can lead the induction hob to light up and start beeping. The hob will not start until the surface is clean enough to work on.
It should not take you long to just run a clean cloth over it – however, do be careful in case there is some old food or dirt, as wiping it across the induction hob could easily scratch it. The second reason that your hob could be beeping is simply because the touch panel is on lock mode. This is a safety feature to prevent children from being able to turn on the hob, in case there are pots and pans on it. Simply activate or deactivate the lock as you require while cooking.
How Can I Make My Induction Hob Quieter?
Thankfully, you do not necessarily have to live with all of the noises that an induction hob can make. There are indeed a few things that you can do to make it quieten down from day to day!
- Depending on whether your pans are thick or thin, there may be certain heating settings that suit them better. If you really do not like the noises that your induction hob makes through your pans, then take the time to find out which settings best suit which utensils.
- Use the right size pans, too. It can be tempting to use a small pan on a large ring, especially if the rest of the hob is in use – however, by not using the entirety of the ring, you are far more likely to hear noise coming from the induction hob.
- Make sure that your pans do not have wobbly pieces! From the handles and lids to cooking tools and other pieces, anything that can rumble as the power from the hob flows through the pan will make noise. Therefore, it is wise to ensure that everything is secure as it is cooking.
If you are in the process of researching induction hobs and had been told about buzzing noise and are now reassured that there’s nothing too much to worry about you may like to prepare for your new hob and read our article on how to remove a hob and how to wire a hob
